Details
BERTHOLLET, Claude Louis (1748-1822). Essai de statique chimique. Paris: Firmin Didot, 1803. 2 volumes, 8o (197 x 122 mm). (Lacking half-title in Vol. 2, some foxing to titles and at end of each volume, pale marginal dampstaining at end of second volume.) Contemporary mottled calf gilt, covers with central gilt coat-of-arms of Louis XVIII, smooth spines gilt (first volume rebacked preserving original spine, one cover charred slightly, one joint starting). Provenance: Bound for Louis XVIII of France (1755-1824). FIRST EDITION. Duveen, p. 75; Norman 222. -- Another copy, complete with half-titles. 2 volumes, 8o (202 x 125 mm). Contemporary sheep-backed boards (extremities rubbed). Provenance: Bibliothque Cantonale (ink stamps on titles). FIRST EDITION. Norman 221. -- An Essay on Chemical Statics. London: W. Flint for J. Mawman, 1804. 2 volumes, 8o (209 x 130 mm). 19th-century diced calf gilt. FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH. Norman 223.
Trained as a physician, the French chemist Berthollet attempted to provide a proper basis for chemistry, so that its experimental results could be viewed in the light of theoretical first principles. In his attempt to provide chemistry with an adequate theoretical foundation, Berthollet recognized the importance of the theory of affinity. According to the Essai, there were two main types of force in nature: gravitation, which accounted for astronomical phenomena, and chemical affinity. He proved that Chemical affinity was relative, varying with the physical conditions accompanying a chemical experiment: quantitiy, temperature, solubility, pressure, and physical state. Berthollet "introduced the highly important concept of 'chemical mass'--relative affinity combined with the mass of reactants in a chemical combination--to give the total force with which a given quantitity of a substance reacted with another" (Norman 221). (6)
Trained as a physician, the French chemist Berthollet attempted to provide a proper basis for chemistry, so that its experimental results could be viewed in the light of theoretical first principles. In his attempt to provide chemistry with an adequate theoretical foundation, Berthollet recognized the importance of the theory of affinity. According to the Essai, there were two main types of force in nature: gravitation, which accounted for astronomical phenomena, and chemical affinity. He proved that Chemical affinity was relative, varying with the physical conditions accompanying a chemical experiment: quantitiy, temperature, solubility, pressure, and physical state. Berthollet "introduced the highly important concept of 'chemical mass'--relative affinity combined with the mass of reactants in a chemical combination--to give the total force with which a given quantitity of a substance reacted with another" (Norman 221). (6)